Tester for internal combustion engines



T. WHSEIMAN TEE FOE. INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES TES Filed Feb 8, 1932 2Sheets Sheei; l

J. WIISEMAN TESTER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Feb. 8, 1952 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 27, 1933 PATENT I OFFICE THOMAS J. WISEIAN,OI NITRO, WEST VIRGINIA TESTER FOB INTERNAL OOIBUSTION ENGINESApplication filed February 8,1838. Serial No. 591,715.

This invention relates to testers for internal combustion engines, andhas for an object the provision of novel means for determining whetherthere is a circuit through the spark plugs from the conductors to groundand, if there is a circuit, whether it is producing a normally operativespark or an impaired ignition. The difficulties of locatin cylin erinternal combustion engine are, of course, known tothose who have testedfor impairment of function, and it is an object of this invention toprovide a compact testing device which will indicate the distribution ofcurrent or the lack of distribution,

the said device being ca able of detecting defects through the use 0visual signals which may be inspected as the mechanisms are actuated tomake and break a circuit from the spark plug to a ground connection ofthe high tension electric circuit.

t is a further object of this invention to provide a casing in which theoperating parts of the switches are enclosed, the top of the casingbeing provided with slots or openings,

through which the visual signal is exposed.

It is a further object of this invention to provide switch operatinginstrumentalities aving manuallyoperable parts extending so through thecasing where they are readily accessible, such parts being the onlyoperative parts of the mechanism which are exposed and which couldlikely be damaged in andling or manipulating the tester.

It is a still further object of this invention to produce a tester whichrequires comparatively small storage space and that can be expeditiouslymanipulated both in the application to the parts of the engine beingtested 0 and its removal therefrom, as well as in the operation of theparts for making and breaking the circuit.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists inthe details of construction, and in the arrangement and combination ofparts to be hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to theaccompanying drawings forming part of this application, wheretrouble inone or more of a multiin like characters denote corresponding parts inthe several views, and in which-- Figure 1 illustrates a View inperspective of a tester embodying the invention;

Figure 2 illustrates an enlarged transverse sectional view on the line22 of Fig. 1;

Figure 3 illustrates a perspective view of fragments of the circuitcontrolling means; Figure 4 illustrates an underneath plan view of acover or lid for the casing;

Figure 5 illustrates a diagrammatic view of the circuits; and

Figure 6 illustrates an enlarged sectional view through a fragment ofthe cover and parts associated with it. 55

It is the purpose of this inventor to provide a tester which will beeffective for testing an engine having any number of cylinders and thepresent embodiment of the in- .vention illustrates a tester for anengine having eight cylinders.

In these drawings, 10 denotes a rectangular housing or easing having aplurality of openings such as 11 on one side, and each of said openingsis provided preferably with an insulator 12 through which a conductor 13extends. Each conductor 13 has its inner end attached to a binding postor terminal 14 and its outer end is connected to a clip 15 ofappropriate type which, in the present embodiment of the invention, isof conventional type, capable of being clamped to an electrode of aspark plug. The inventor does not wish to be limited with respect to thetype of clip employed and therefore a description of the details ofconstruction of the clip is omitted. It has been found desirable toprovide insulating nipples 16 for the clips, the said nipples, in thepresent embodiment of the. invention, being flexible in order that whenthey are pressed they will operate the clip for opening its jaws toembrace an electrode.

Each binding post or terminal, in the present embodiment of theinvention, is formed by employing a strip of conductive metal, such ascopper, and shaping it between its ends to form a seat for a knifeswitch 17. In forming the said seat, the strip is doubled on itself atlocations 18 and 19, the doubled v I such spaced relation to each otherthat the blade will wipe the sides thereof in entering the seat sothatthere will be electrical contact between the blade and the partsforming the seat. Each'strip may be secured to the under side of thecover by a screw. 19*- to which an end of a conductor 13 is attached.The end 20 of the strip remote from the binding post is shaped topartially embrace the ca or terminal 21 of a vacuum lamp 22, the saidlamp being supplied with a cap or terminal'23 at its opposite endlocated in certain relation to a ground connection, as will presentlyappear.

The cover 24 of the casing'has a plurality of windows therein, formed inthe resent instance, by providing slots 25 which are elongatedtransversely of the cover and each slot merges with a transverselydisposed rethe cover.

ccss 26 in the inner surface of the cover, each recess constituting aseat for a lamp.

The cover 24 is also provided with a plu-' ra-lity of apertures 27 whichmerge with transversely disposed recesses 28 in the inner surface of thecover, one such aperture and recess being formed for each window in Eachaperture and recess last mentioned contains a switch operating memberwhich, in the present embodiment of the invention, comprises aninsulating body 29 with a finger piece extension 30. The contour of thebody 29 is such that it fits in the recess 28 and the extension 30projects through the aperture of the top where it is accessible formanipulation. The body 29 has a slot 31 in which a blade 32 is seated,the said blade extending practically through the body and with the body,has an aperture to receive a rod 33 that extends longitudinally of thehousing. The body 29 and blade 32 are oscillatable on the rod 33 and theblade is arranged to be in electrical contactwith the said rod. When theparts are assembled, the rod is engaged by resilient clips 34, the freeends of which extend across and in engagement with the said rod, whereasthe 'oppositeend of each clip is secured to the under surface of thecover by fastenings such as screws or the like. The rod 33 constitutes aconnection for a ground conductor 36, which conductor is supplied with aclip and insulator, as disclosed in Figure 2 and described in connectiontherewith.

In the diagrammatic view, Figure 5, the lamps 22 are numbered from 1 to8 to indicate the cylinders, and the spark plugs included in the hightension circuit are likewisenumberedfrom 1 to 8. The other connectionsof the diagram are numbered in accordance with the mechanicalparts ofthe tester, to which reference has been made in intermittently shortcircuiting a normal circuit of the high tension system. When the circuitis changed the lamps will exhibit visual signals proportional to theintensity of the current passing through them, it being understood thatthe terminals 23 of the several lamps are in such proximity to the rod33 as to permit a circuit which will illuminate the lamps.

The tubes are held in place in the casing by strips 37 and the saidstrips are secured by fastenings 38 such as screws or the like.

I claim:

L In a-tester 'for internal combustion engines, a housing havingwindows, a lamp disposed in the housing for each window, contact stripsdisposed in the housing, each of which engages a lamp and conductscurrent thereto, a rod extending longitudinally of the housing inposition to receive current from the lamps, a switch blade for eachcontact strip electrically connected to the rod, means oscillatable onthe rod and extending externally of the housing for operating eachswitch blade, a grounding conductor connected to the rod, and conductorsconnected to the contact strips and adapted to be anchored to sparkplugs of internal combustion engines.

2. In a tester for internal combustion engines, a housing, a covertherefor having windows, lamps disposed in the housing under eachwindow, a contact strip secured to the under side of the cover for eachlamp and operative to conduct current thereto, a rod extendinglongitudinally of the cover, a switch blade for each contact striposcillatably mounted on the rod and electrically connected thereto,means oscillatable on the rod and extending through the cover foroperating each switch blade, a grounding conductor connected to the rodand adapted to be anchored to a grounding part of the engine, andconductors connected to the contact strips and adapted to be anchored tospark plugs of the engine.

3. In a tester for internal combustion engines, a housing, a covertherefor having windows, lamps attached to the cover under each window,a contact strip secured to the under side of the cover for each lamp andoperative to conduct current thereto, a rod extending longitudinally ofthe cover, a switch blade for each contact strip oscillatably mounted onthe rodand electrically connected thereto, members oscillatable on therod'to which the switch bladesare connected, parts of the said membersextending through the cover for manipulation in rocking the members onthe rod, a grounding conductor connected to the rod, and conductorsconnected to the contact strips and adapted to be connected to sparkplugs of the engine.

4. In a tester for internal combustion engines, a housing, a covertherefor 'having windows, the said cover having recesses on its innersurface in line with the windows, lamps located in said recesses, meansfor holding the lamps in place, the said cover having transverselydisposed recesses mergmg wlth an aperture, a rod 1n the housmg extendingtransversely of the said recesses, eletact with the aforesaid lamps,conductors connected to the contact strips and adapted to be connectedto spark plugs of int'ern'a'l' combustion engines, and a grounding conductor connected to the rod and having means for attaching it to a metalpart of the said engine.

THOMAS WISEMAN.

